Gevgelija

(Macedonian: Гевгелија)

Located between the mountains Kozhuv and Pajak only 70 km from Thessalonica and 165 km from Skopje, the town acts as a rail depot between the two countries, making it a central location in its region. Its position in the south of the country gives it a warm, Mediterranean climate, making it the optimal location in the Republic of Macedonia for cultivation of fruits and vegetables such as figs, lemons, and grapes. The town is also a centre for raising silkworms, an integral part of the country's silk trade. Alongside its agriculture, Gevgelija's economy consists of a light industry sector. Tourism is growing, with a spa located in a nearby village.

It's considered that Gevgelija is one of the warmest cities in Europe. Mountain Kozhuf and other smaller mountains surrounding the city are stopping the cold winds from the north and because there is no mountains on south all the way to the Eagean Sea where the warm winds are passing. The temperature at the city is very high at the summers, sometimes it can reach to 45 degrees Celsius.

• Number of inhabitants: 22.988
• Area: 485 sq. km
• Geographic position: 41.08° N 22.32° E
• Climate: Mediterranean
• Average temperature: 14.5oC
• Time zone: Central European Time (GMT +1)
• Postal Code: 1480
• Local area code: 034

Connected both to Macedonia and the Northern Greece on one, and the Dojran lake on the other side, Gevgelija could always offer something nice and delicious to you. You can make your choice between beautiful Macedonian specialities they prepare in their way, Greek cuisine parts, and fish from the lake that is so near, so you may make a bet the fish you’ll get is fresh. Normally, all unavoidable pizzerias are here to take a bit of your time and save a bit of your money.

Gevgelija's most famous feature is the archaeological site, Vardaski Rid. With its position and configuration, Vardarski Rid readily fits the needs of settlement life in almost all prehistoric and ancient periods.

Thus, the higher Hill 1, dominantly rising for some 60 m above the plain and the Vardar bed, easily defendable, with steep rocky slopes and a protected approach to the Vardar waters, represents an ideal point for pre-historic settlement since the metal ages. On the other hand, the lower milder-sided Hill 2, only 30 m above the Vardar bed, with sufficient area and in direct relation to a possible road line (the old and main trans-Balkans north-south route) in its lowest area, fulfils all conditions for the development of an urban settlement since early historic periods.

The oldest findings from Vardarski Rid have been incidentally discovered. They witness life during the neolith on a limited space in the lowest southern terrace. The research of that part of the terrain has not been performed yet. The beginning of the continual life is connected with the eastern sides of the Hill 1. Remains of a settlement have been discovered dating from the very end of the Bronze Age. The graves in this settlement have been found on the opposite western sides of the Hill 1. In any case, it could be considered documented that the Hill 1 was the location for the initial prehistoric settlement from which in the centuries to come during the whole 1 millennium before Christ, successive settlements will develop and expand. From them also sprang the last historically witnessed old Macedonian town, which existed before the coming of the Romans and the Roman occupation from Macedonia.

In certain relations with life towards the end of the Bronze Age on Vardarski Rid the Kofilak site is brought, also known as Bogorodi?ki Rid, founded 300-400 meters eastwards from Vardarski Rid. Certain archaeological research has been performed on this not easily approachable place, where remains of a small town from the end of the Bronze Age and Iron Age transition were discovered. The findings at Kofilak may easily be connected with the archaeological situation at Vardarski Rid and find their place in its stratigraphy.

The cultural layers from the following settlement from the early Iron Age and the first centuries in the first millennium B.C., have been found both on the eastern slope of Hill 1 and on the valley between the two hills. They document extended life of the previous settlement, in new, extended frames and with new cultural features. The following settlement from the mature Iron Age was spread widest. Layers with rich cultural content from the VIII to the VI century B.C. have been discovered over the whole site’s area, on the two hills and the passage between them.

An undisputable connection with the Iron Age life on Vardarski Rid is shown by the Milci, Suva Reka, Paragon, ulica Ilija Mijov and other sites, found on 300 to 600 meters distance southwards and eastwards from Vardarski Rid. These sites are well-known and already widely affirmed necropolises, from which above 200 graves have already been excavated, all dating from the VII and VI century B.C. In these centuries the most intensive life happened in the Gevgelija region and such a level of cultural and economic development that places this region among the most developed and economically strongest areas. A mighty local Iron Age culture develops and blossoms, which unexpectedly fast economic and cultural rise was based on intensive mining, metallurgy and the appropriate geo-position. The lower Vardar valley was one of the generators of the further cultural-historic development of South-eastern Europe. Not accidentally, the spreading and taking of shape of the ancient Macedonian state at that time was happening in the direction of positioning of the Lower Vardar valley as a central old-Macedonian area, by establishing the new capital in Pela.

In the following centuries (V-IV century B.C.), with the gradual increase of the role of the Lower Vardar valley or Amfaxitidis within ancient Macedonia, besides Pela the neighbouring city centres north from the capital are also developing, down the Vardar Valley, such as: Evropos, Atalante, Gortinija and Idomene. These towns had a great geopolitical, strategic and economic significance and very important events for the history of Ancient Macedonia are connected with them. One of these towns was undoubtedly located on Vardarski Rid.

The remains of this town on Vardarski Rid are concentrated mainly on the Hill 2. Although taking a lesser space than the previous Iron Age settlement, the discovered buildings and their interior document an economically and culturally strong settlement with all the characteristics of urban life. The great town Stoa, separate works of art and the circulation of different coins at the end of the V and IV century B.C. are the best illustration for that. This settlement was of course a witness of the historical events connected with the campaign of the Thracian leader Sitalk against Macedonia in 429 year B.C. Also its final demolition could be documented with the Celtic southward raids in the first decades of the 3rd century B.C.

During the 3rd and 2nd century B.C., the next Macedonian town in line developed and spread over the whole area of Vardarski Rid. On top of the ruins of the older settlement a new urbanized town arose, under new criteria and with different relations, which enabled a fast economic and spatial growth. Numerous buildings have been discovered from this settlement – whole urban town blocks and a rich archaeological material. A special place is taken by around 500 coins from all Macedonian rulers and minting places, from Antigon Gonat to the first Roman coins, which have been discovered in almost all excavated buildings. The life in this town had abruptly ended somewhere around the middle of the 2nd century B.C. and was never more renewed. The most possible reason for this are the tumultuous events connected with the Roman conquest of Macedonia. Only on one part of the town of the Eastern terrace remains of extended life have been discovered, up until the 1st century B.C. Many centuries later, during the 12-13 century, on the South Terrace, in the rummages of the pre-Roman settlement on Vardarski Rid, skeleton graves from the Middle Ages have been discovered to have been dug in.

Well, a lot of courts, sport halls, places where you can sport as much as you don’t feel fatigue . The “problem” with this locality is the extremes of the temperature in the summertime. If you are ready and prepared to keep your mind and body fresh on 35oC and higher from early in the morning, then be welcome, defeat your rivals in tennis, make a good soccer tournament or ride your bike to Dojran and back, take a good swim in the lake because the water temperature is almost like in your bath, or try to find some shade along Vardar on the north and fish a bit. And finally, if you prefer walking, then take a walk on the mountain of Kozhuv.

It was well known as Macedonian Monte Carlo in some earlier times, and not only that. Always full of fun and happy faces. Gevgelija kept its image and today you’ll enjoy there, accompanied by friends from all over the world who were curious to get out from the highway on their way to Greece or back and visit Gevgelija. Many of them stay a bit longer than they’ve planned.

• By car: Unavoidable on the highway to Greece 165 km south from Skopje, or on the main railway to Athens, you’ll know that you’re on the Greek-Macedonian border.
• By plane: www.airports.com.mk (Skopje)
• By bus: www.sas.com.mk (Skopje)
• By train:

Hunting site Milisin Gevgelija

In the Southern part of Macedonia, in the Gevgelija area, near the border with Greece, on an area of 9280 ha the hunting site “Milisin” is located. The hunting area is distributed over developed relief, with various configurations of the terrain and an altitude of 430- 2165 m.

The influence of the Mediterranean climate, the large presence of water sources, oak and elm forests create ideal conditions for the wild boar and roe. On the hunting site, there is a fenced area of 313 Ha for breeding of wild boar. The fence is equipped with technical facilities among which are three gaters for breeding of trophy hogs. Within the fence you can hunt throughout the year, and apart from the wild boar, roes can also be hunted. In the hunting site there is a hunting cottage, with useful area of about 100 m2 and capacity of four beds.